The Civil War

1. The Civil War 1861-1865

2. Beginnings • The Civil War began in 1861, after the election of Abraham Lincoln. • The South saw Lincoln’s election as a direct threat to their very way of life, a way of life built on slavery.

3. Beginnings • The Civil War was between the North, or the Union, and the South, or the Confederacy. • America was split into two, North vs. South

4. Secession • Secession is the process of breaking away. • When Lincoln took office in 1861, seven former American states seceded from the United States.

5. A New Nation • These seven Southern states formed the Confederate States of America.

6. A New Nation • The Confederate States of America formed their own government, wrote their own constitution, and chose their own president. • The President of the Confederate states was Jefferson Davis of Mississippi.

7. A New Nation • The Vice President of this new confederation of states explains that the foundation of his country is based on • “The great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man, that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition.” • The Confederate States of America was a nation based on slavery, Southern pride, and the inherently racist belief that blacks were not equal to whites.

8. Lincoln tries to save the Union • When Lincoln took office, he tried to repair the relationship between North and South. • Lincoln promised to leave slavery alone in areas where it already existed. • His primary goal was to avoid civil war.

9. Lincoln tries to save the Union • Lincoln did not declare war against the Confederacy in a crusade to end slavery. Rather, he declared war because he thought secession unconstitutional. He declared war to end the rebellion of Southern states who entered into the Confederacy. He declared war to save the Union. • Lincoln said if there was to be civil war, the Confederate States would have to be the ones to fire first.

10. Fort Sumter • On April 12, 1861, the Confederacy fired the first shot at Fort Sumter, the Civil War had begun.

11. The Union’s Advantages • Had a much larger population than the South. • Controlled nearly all of the manufacturing capabilities in America. • Overall, the North had much more wealth than the South. • Northern Population: 22 million people • Southern Population: 9 million people (about 4 million of them slaves) leaving 5 million whites

12. The South’s Disadvantage • The South didn’t have anywhere near the number of people the North did. In a war of attrition, that would prove very costly.

13. The Union’s Disadvantages • They had a much more difficult task: restoring the Union. • Poor leadership for the first few years of the war. • Had to fight most of the war in Southern territory.

14. The Confederacy’s Advantages • Had “home field advantage” • Much better military leadership • Cotton as a bargaining chip • Patriotic soldiers who felt their home states had been invaded.

15. Technology in the Civil War • In many ways, the Civil War was the first example of modern warfare. • This increase in technological capability greatly increased the number of casualties in war. • “Neither the soldiers nor their officers were prepared for the way technology had transformed warfare.” (Foner, 441)

16. Technology in the Civil War • The Civil War was the first major war in which railroads were used to transport soldiers from place to place. • Also the first war in which iron-clad ships were used in naval combat.

17. Technology in the Civil War • Now military officers could use the telegraph to communicate. • They even used observation balloons to view enemy lines. • Submarines and primitive hand grenades made their debut in this war.

18. Technology in the Civil War

19. Guns in the Civil War • This was the war in which the traditional musket was replaced with a more modern rifle. • The musket had been accurate only at short range, but the rifle could be deadly from 600yds away.

20. Medical Care in the Civil War • While technology was improving, medical care practices remained very old fashioned. • “I believe the doctors kill more than they cure.” Confederate soldier • Disease was out of control during the Civil War • - measles, dysentery, malaria, and typhus all killed more men than combat did

21. The Battle of Bull Run • The first great battle of the Civil War. • 800 men died in this one battle, more than in any battle in American history to that point. • This battle convinced both sides that this would be a long, bloody war.

22. Robert E. Lee • Considered one of the great military leaders of all time. • He was offered the job of commander of Union forces, but he couldn’t turn his back on his home state of Virginia.

23. Robert E. Lee • Though Lee never had an army the size of the Union army, he consistently outsmarted his enemy. He was a brilliant tactician. • He was opposed to slavery, as well as secession. In spite of this, he chose to lead the Confederacy because first and foremost, he considered himself a Virginian. • With all my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native State, with the sincere hope that my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword... -Robert E Lee

24. Robert E. Lee • The right commander can make all the difference.

25. The Union Struggles • Mainly due to poor leadership, the Union lost most of its battles the first year and a half of the war. • Each time the Union forces tried to march on Richmond (the Confederate capitol), Lee pushed them back. • Things looked bleak for the Union. Lincoln could not find the right generals to lead his massive army.

26. Shiloh • The battle of Shiloh, February 1862. • This was a surprise attack by the Confederates on Union soldiers. • Ulysses S. Grant (future Union hero and American President) was the commander of Union troops.

27. The Confederacy comes North • In September of 1862, Lee led his Confederate army North in hopes of capturing Washington DC. • On the border of Maryland and Virginia, Lee and his troops met McClellan and his Union army. • Near a tiny creek called the Antietam, these men engaged in the bloodiest battle in American history.

28. Antietam- September 17, 1862

29. Antietam

30. Antietam • The bloodiest day in American history. • In one day of fighting, 4,300 men were killed, 18,000 wounded. • More Americans died on September 17, 1862 than on any other day in the nation’s history, including D-Day in WW2 and the terrorist attacks of September 11th. • More American soldiers perished at Antietam than in all the other wars fought by the United States in the 19th century combined. (Foner, 444)

31. Impact of Antietam • Although they suffered incredible casualties, the Union “won” this battle. • Finally, Lincoln had the victory he needed. After this battle, he was able to put forth the Emancipation Proclamation. • Lincoln had many reasons for creating this controversial and important piece of legislation.

32. The Emancipation Proclamation • Reasons for the Proclamation: • - Lincoln hoped that emancipated slaves would fight on behalf of the Union. • - the proclamation would keep Britain from taking the side of the Confederacy.

33. The Emancipation Proclamation • The EP didn’t actually free very many slaves. • The Union would have to win the war for this proclamation to take effect. • The EP was a political maneuver by Lincoln.

34. The Emancipation Proclamation • Read the section titled “Proclaiming Emancipation” on pg. 172-173. What effect did the Emancipation Proclamation have on the Civil War? • Read pgs. 175-177 • Summarize the events of the Battle of Gettysburg.

35. The tide turns for the Union… • Finally, Lincoln found two generals that could win him this war. • These generals were Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman.

36. Grant and Sherman • Grant would battle Lee in the east, Sherman would attempt to take Georgia and march all the way to the sea. • Both Grant and Sherman are ruthless. • These men engage in “total war” meaning entire societies were affected by the war, not just armies.

37. Grant wins at Vicksburg • Grant engages in a war of attrition. • “Who can fight longer?” • Grant knew he had more men than Lee. He was willing to lose staggering amounts of men to win the Civil War. • Many considered Grant heartless because of this. He was known by many as “The Butcher”.

38. Sherman’s march • Sherman engages in total war in his march through Georgia to the city of Atlanta. • “War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.” W.T. Sherman • Read pgs. 180-181